The Bruins & Beacon Hill

On this short post I have to start out by saying that I am not one of the those girls who is crazy about sports, but living in New England makes it a little hard to resist turning into one. Boston happens to be a very lucky city, not just because we have amazing teams, but also because the majority of them play directly in the city (besides our beloved Pats), which can make it easy to make a day out of it, on a whim.

Itinerary:

Morning: Brunch @ Enoteca Bin 26 and Charles street shopping
Afternoon: Bruins game
Evening: Dinner @ Felcaro’s

Morning:

This past weekend I wanted to take one of my favorite little buddies out to a hockey game, so my entire day was set around it, plus a 8 year old’s desires, that I would not dare to deny.

We could have easily stayed in the West End for all of Saturday but we decided to head towards Beacon Hill with its adorable Charles Street shops and restaurants.

We started our morning late, so for brunch we went to one of my favorite little restaurants on Charles street, Enoteca Bin 26.

I would say this is a hidden gem because it doesn’t usually come up on restaurant searches and I have not seen them advertised anywhere. Their food is amazing and the wine list is equally satisfying, and made better by the fact that they have different size pours (100ml, 250ml, 500ml & 750ml). But since it’s brunch and I had a long day ahead of me, I went with the very delicious mimosa.

For my meal I invariably end up with the same thing, because you absolutely cannot go wrong with duck hash. That is not to say I haven’t tried a number of their other dishes, all equally delicious, like the pappardelle bolognese and the risotto with duck confit.

After brunch we casually strolled down Charles Street, away from the Park and towards MGH. There are many cute shops. Although on this occasion we only had time for a couple of quick ones (Artifaktori and Flat of the Hill), there are many boutiques with unique clothes and jewelry. Beacon Hill is one of the oldest areas in the city and a great neighborhood for spring and fall walks, taking pictures, looking at houses…

Afternoon:

Since we needed to make a 1PM game we didn’t have time for much else, so we headed towards the Garden, which is somewhere between the North and West end. It is the proud home of the Boston Bruins and the Boston Celtics, as well as a huge concert and show venue that hosts anything from Disney on Ice to Justin Timberlake to Monster trucks and WWE.

Hanging out with a child made for a different experience than I would have otherwise had. For example, at the game, I didn’t drink a single alcoholic beverage (I know, impressive) and spent all the breaks going to different floors looking for a place where he could get his face painted, and then spending the rest of the time looking for Dunkin Donuts munchkins, which surprisingly were no where to be found.

The game was great and exciting, the Bruins won 5-1, so we kept on with our happy relaxing day.

Evening:

A child also changes the ways you pick places to hang out. I really like to enjoy a nice dinner and glass of wine on Saturdays, but this time around we just ended up at Felcaro’s for slices of pizza.

I actually really love their pizza, but don’t think I have ever been there in the evening, as this is a prime spot for neighborhood “kids” to grab a late night bite after the bars.  Felcaro’s is conveniently located diagonally across from the Liberty Hotel and around the corner from a favorite dive, the Beacon Hill Pub.

But this was not that type of a Saturday…

Mihaela: I’m a free spirited female originally from Romania but officially an American as of last year. I love Boston, despite my lack of appreciation for cold weather.  I find my health through great good and drinks in the company of great friends. Boston is the kind of city that suits any mood, whether you are a foodie or a dive bar aficionado. Boston has it all and I enjoy it all.

BOSTON’S NORTH END: CONNECTING WITH THE NEIGHBORHOOD

Happy St. Patrick’s Day! Yes, the irony isn’t lost on me that today’s post is dedicated to a neighborhood known for its Italian population, but these days even the North End celebrates this holiday, right? Obviously festivities there are more subdued than in neighborhoods like Southie, but with the old guard thinning even the North End sees its share of green come March.

IRREGARDLESS, the remainder of this itinerary has nothing to do with Boston’s favorite drinking holiday. We already covered off on St. Patrick’s Day in Diana’s post, and unfortunately if you’re looking for tips on the St. Patrick’s Day parade that float has already passed (See what I did there? I’ll see myself out).

So, what do we have on the docket for my North End itinerary?

Itinerary:

Morning: Breakfast at Theo’s Cozy Corner
Afternoon: Bocce and Pizza
Evening: Roam the streets, then dinner/drinks at Ward 8

Morning: Breakfast at Theo’s Cozy Corner

Looking for a cozy breakfast spot? Like, just-a-few-tables-better-get-there-early cozy? Then the aptly named Theo’s is the place for you. This small restaurant is a great place for a fast and cheap (cash-only) meal to kick-start your day in the North End. Assuming you get there before a line forms, which can happen on the weekends.  Grab yourself their breakfast special of eggs, toast and sausage and you’re ready to start the day!

Theo’s … with Old North Church right in the distance.

Afternoon: Bocce and Pizza

Most think of soccer when it comes to Italy and sports, but I prefer Italy’s faster-paced sporting alternative. No, not F1. I’m talking about the beautiful sport of bocce.  A poor man’s curling, bocce is played by two teams who compete by trying to throw their bocce balls closest to the target (a smaller ball known as the “jack”).  The team with the closest ball to the jack is the only team that can score in a round, and they receive one point for each ball that is closer to the jack than the closest ball of the other team.

James brought up the good point in his recent South End post that it can be hard to come up with things to do when it’s freezing outside. Bocce is similar in that it’s ideally done in nice weather, but we’re close enough to spring that I’m going to recommend it. Besides, what’s manlier than playing bocce when its 40 degrees out? HUH?

Don’t mess with this guy.

Puopolo Park on Commercial Street has three bocce courts that are well worth a visit.  Most days and nights (at least during the summer) you’ll see people playing bocce here. And if playing isn’t your thing, it’s still worth checking out. Mingling with the small crowds that gather while enjoying the park and Charles River is a great way to connect with the neighborhood and see a different side of the North End.  It’s a short walk from Hanover Street, so you shouldn’t have any problems getting there.

Remember that old Pizza Hut commercial where the little league team loses their shit after their right fielder makes a routine catch to end the game?  I must have watched that commercial a billion times because it was on the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (the movie!) VHS and fast-forwarding a VHS was a royal pain.  That right there is an example of great marketing – 15 years after the fact and I still connect pizza with post-sports meal celebrations. It’s just too bad there aren’t any Pizza Huts in Boston for us to go celebrate at after bocce. AND NOW YOU PEOPLE ARE TAKING SBARRO AWAY FROM ME?

Well since I’ve got pizza on the brain, we might as well go to Regina Pizzaria.  Anyone living in Boston knows this chain.  It all started here in the North End, and dining at this location is a good thing to knock off your Boston bucket list.  Is it the best pizza you’ll ever have? Of course not! But it’s tasty and worth visiting at least once.

A peek inside Regina Pizzaria … or is it Pizzaria Regina?

Tip: seating is limited inside and lines form out the door to eat here. But if all you want is pizza, you can skip the entire line and head straight for the register for pizza to go (limited to cheese and pepperoni slices). There are parks right close by, so instead of eating in the dimly lit establishment, save yourself the wait and just enjoy your pizza outdoors.

Park bench pizza. Yum!

Evening: Roam the streets, then dinner/drinks at Ward 8

The North End has a wonderful charm to it. The people obviously play a role, but I really enjoy the architecture here. Wandering its narrow (occasionally trash-filled) streets, lined with red brick buildings and occasional cobblestone, leaves me thinking of bygone days. I would advise walking around and seeing what you discover.  Hanover Street is where the action is, but there are plenty of cute side streets worthy of exploration.

We’re finishing up today’s itinerary with a trip to Ward 8.  This bar/restaurant is named after the Ward 8, an old cocktail from the late 1800s that originated in Boston. First invented in the (now defunct) Locke-Ober, the cocktail was supposedly named in honor of a politician who won election thanks in large part to victory in Boston’s Ward 8 district.

I haven’t dined here before so I can’t speak to the quality of the food, but they make a fine cocktail.  Of course, one would be wise to order their namesake cocktail, but their Rye Flip is also delicious.  It’s a trendy bar that has an upscale-ish and modern vibe to it, but with friendly bar keeps and warm atmosphere. Add this to your list of cocktail bars to visit!

The Ward 8 cocktail: rye, lemon and orange juice, and grenadine.

So, what’d you think? What would you have done differently if you were writing a one-day itinerary for the North End? Share your thoughts with us in our comments section. Cheers!

Alex: I like to make the most of my day, especially when visiting a new place. My itineraries tend to pack in as much as possible – attractions, museums, etc. – with stops for a drink between destinations. I love visiting main sites, but do my best to locate something off the beaten path that other tourists may not know about.